With WWE Champion John Cena drafted to Monday
Night RAW, I can't imaging the Smackdown! selection to
even come close to filling the void. Now I know how
Los Angeles Clippers fans feel.

General Manager Theodore Long kicks off the show
in the ring from Kansas City. WWE rubs the fact we
lost Cena in our face, before our pick is announced.
Long says he isn't happy, especially since Smackdown!
doesn't have a champion. JBL interrupts Long, and he
is all smiles. JBL says he is also very upset that
Cena has left, since their rivalry was very
competitive. JBL wants to talk about what he has seen
in the back. JBL says the people, Smackdown!, and even
Teddy Long, all needs him. JBL wants the GM to name
him the champion of Smackdown! Long tells JBL to shut
up and listen; there will be no decision on the WWE
championship until the end of the daft lottery. Long
then announces Smackdown's lottery pick, Chris Benoit.
The fans give him a standing ovation. (Isn't this the
guy that jumped ship for Raw last year? Anyone
remember that? As for a draft score card
Raw 1, Smackdown! 0. Man, we got hosed.)

Benoit says he's psyched to be here. (I guess
because HHH can't hold him down, anymore; JBL doesn't
have that kind of stroke.) Benoit says JBL has does
something that he never has -- quit. The Canadian
Crippler says he's back to fight for the title, and
things are going to start changing, now. JBL says he's
a big fan, and kisses up to the Canadian Crippler.
Until, JBL mentions ECW. Bradshaw rips into Benoit for
being proud of being from ECW. JBL says the ECW antics
on RAW were a black eye on the industry. JBL tells
Benoit if he joins ECW he will make sure it's the
worst decision of his life. Benoit says he regrets
nothing from his career, and he would rather see a man
carrying a steel chair, than begging and pleading for
a title. Benoit challenges JBL to find out who the
better man is and challenges him to a match. JBL wants
Teddy Long to explain that this is his show. Long says
it's the peoples' show, and tonight JBL will take on
Benoit. JBL goes for a cheap shot, but Benoit
counters into a Crippler Crossface. JBL breaks free,
and heads to the back.

Haas and Carlito start off with Carlito slapping
on a side head lock. Haas powers out, and the two get
in a shoving match. An arm drag sends CCC to the mat.
Haas then hits a shoulder breaker, and gets a near
pin. Carlito is bounced off the turnbuckle, but
counters another shot, by pushing Haas into the
turnbuckle. Carlito is shot off the ropes, but Haas
telegraphs a back body drop. Carlito follows with a
standing drop kick. Haas recovers, and hits a kick to
the chin, and then a back body drop. Haas whips CCC
into Morgan on the apron, and then nails him with a
suicide dive over the top rope. Haas hits a sunset
flip, but Carlito rolls it over, and grabs the tights
to get the win. On the outside Holly goes after
Morgan. The fight spills into the ring, and Morgan
hits the F-5 on Haas.

Winner via pinfall: Carlito Caribbean Cool and
Matt Morgan

The ECW incident on RAW is recapped. I covered it,
and I reported it, and you can read it here.

Heidenreich is asking Benoit to be his best
friend. Benoit isn't quite sure what to make of this
guy, but luckily Eddie Guerrero intervenes. Latino
Heat says he didn't expect to see him until Sunday.
Eddie wants Chris to know that he will always be his
close friend, even if they wrestle for the title.
Benoit says he has seen how Eddie has treated his
friends lately, and then brings up Rey Rey.

Steve Moreno is backstage with Kurt Angle, and
asks Angle how he feels about people saying he took
advantage of another man's wife. Angle says he's
obsessed with Sharmell, and then gets pretty graphic.
(What a great story line for one of the few remaining
stars of this show.) Angle then accuses Sharmell of
not letting Angle go after the bell rang. (Although,
it's still not as bad as Edge and Lita.) Angle says
after he beats Booker T, Sharmell will be coming home
with him.

Smackdown! is coming to Hershey! I'll be in the
fourth row! Although, they are advertising JBL and
Orlando Jordan versus John Cena as the Main Event, me
thinks that ain't gonna happen.

Match #2 - Paul London vs. Akio

London hits an arm drag, and locks in an arm bar.
Akio whips London into the corner and .. hold on my
cell is ringing. Actually, it's Eddie Guerrero's
music, and Latino Heat heads down to the ring. Akio
takes advantage, by beating the hell out of London.
Eddie grabs a mike from Tony Chimmel, and heads into
the ring. Eddie says he has something to get off his
chest. Akio is kicked into Eddie, and Latino Heat
takes him out, and then tosses London from the ring.
London fights back, but Eddie tosses him again. London
can't take a hint, and Guerrero has to toss him again.
The fans rip into Guerrero, and Latino Heat says he's
disrespected in the ring, and in the back, and by the
fans. All because no one thinks he can beat Rey
Mysterio. Eddie says Mysterio hasn't forgotten the
beating he gave him. Eddie tells Rey not to forget the
promise made to him, because Eddie never makes a
promise he can't keep.

No Contest

Match #3 - Kurt Angle vs. Booker T

Angle grabs a mike and wants to know where Tazz
stands on the ECW issue. Tazz doesn't say a word;
Angle tells him he has until the end of the night. Tazz
tells Michael Cole that he doesn't have to answer to Angle.
Onto the match, which begs the question: If Booker is
so angry with Angle, why doesn't he just jump him in
the back, or go after him with a chair? Booker hits a
hip toss to start, and locks in an arm bar. Angle
reverses the hold, and works over the shoulder. Booker
T shoulders Angle in the gut to break the hold, and
then nails a clothesline. Book chops away at the
Olympic champ on the corner, and then chokes him on
the ropes. Booker T then drops Angle on the top rope,
and follows with a scissors kick on the apron. Angle
is tossed back in the ring, and responds with a kick
to the mid-section, and then beats Booker in the
corner. Book misses an elbow in the corner, and is
beaten into the near corner. Booker responds with a
reverse heel kick, and then mounts Angle and punches
him in the jaw. Booker walks into a reverse German
suplex, as Sharmell looks on. Angle works over Book
with kicks to the ribs, and then a back breaker. Angle
only gets a two count. A back suplex gets a near fall
for Angle. The Olympic champ locks in a leg scissors.
Booker gets to his feet, and breaks the hold with a
reverse elbow. Book shoots off the ropes, but gets
caught with a belly-to-belly. Angle stalks Booker, but
the Bookman counters a charge with a back body drop
over the ropes. We return from break, as Booker T
escapes from a bear hug. Booker hits a high elbow off
the ropes, follows with a suplex, but Angle blocks the
scissors kick. Angle goes for the Angle Slam, but
Booker counters, and hits the Book End. Angle kicks
out, and recovers to hit rolling German suplexes.
Booker blocks one, and rolls Angle up for two. Angle
hits the Angle Slam, and Booker kicks out of the pin.
The straps come down, and Angle locks in the ankle
lock. Booker rolls through, and sends Angle flying
into the middle turnbuckle. Book follows with a spine
buster, and spin-a-rooni. Angle gets up, only to get
hit with a scissors kick, but he still kicks out of
the pin. Angle locks in the ankle lock, again. Booker
crawls toward the ropes, and gets there on the second
effort. Booker kicks Angle off his ankle, and Angle is
knocked into the ref. Angle leaves the ring to get a
chair. The Olympic champ nails Booker's ankle with the
chair, and then goes for a chair shot. Booker ducks,
and Angle hits himself as the chair rockets off the
top rope. Booker pulls himself up on the turnbuckle
and hits another scissors kick, and gets the pin.

Winner via pinfall: Booker T

It's not often that a free TV match is nominated
for Match of the Year, but we may have one here.

Angle is still in the ring after the break. The
Olympic champ rolls out of the ring, and picks up a
chair. He tells Tazz that he won't leave until he gets
an answer. Tazz gets up, and just stares Angle down.
Angle says Tazz will give him the answer he wants, and
he will sit down next to him until he does. Angle says
he won't play games, and walk away, only to turn
around and nail Tazz with the mike, and then with a
chair shot. Angle says he just made up Tazz's mind,
and he will take out ECW. Tazz is busted open, and
Cole calls for a trainer. Tazz is then helped to the back.

Match #4 - Heidenreich vs. Rory Butts

Heidenreich is still looking for friends. If he's
still looking for friends next week, I'm not
volunteering. Um, Heidenreich's friend this week is a
lot older than the other kids, and she's a lot cuter.
Rory hits cheap shot, but Heidenreich recovers. He
hits a spinning side slam, and get the pin.

Winner via pinfall: Heidenreich

Heidenreich invites the young lady into the ring,
and recites one of his poems. It ain't Shakespeare,
but she seemed to enjoy it. I feel a disturbance in
the Force, I sense a plant.

Tony Chimmel introduces Paul Heyman to the arena,
and Heyman has his ECW crew in tow. Heyman takes
Tazz's spot at the announce table, and says Teddy Long
has invited him to ringside.

Match #5 - Chris Benoit vs. JBL w/ The
Cabinet

Benoit fist bumps with his ECW boys. The
Secretaries of Defense are late to the show. JBL hits
a cheap shot after break in the corner, but Benoit
responds with chops. Benoit is whipped into the
corner, and he hits the mat hard. Benoit fights back
with chops. The Crippler runs into a boot in the
corner. Benoit blocks a suplex, and almost get a
sharpshooter locked in. JBL grabs the ropes to break
the hold. Benoit reverses a power bomb with a
sharpshooter. Benoit clears the apron of the Bashams,
and goes back to the hold. Benoit has to chase Jordan
off the apron, and is then knocked from the ring, as
Carlito and Morgan join the fun. We return from break,
as Benoit is choked on the ropes. Benoit counters a
power mover with a cross body. JBL then locks in a
sleeper hold. Benoit drops to his knees, but doesn't
fade. Benoit counters with a suplex, and both men go
down. Benoit blocks a punch, and works over JBL. A high
elbow sends JBL to the mat, and a snap suplex follows.
Benoit scores a hat trick with rolling German
suplexes. Benoit climbs the turnbuckle, as Kurt Angle
makes his way to the ring. Benoit hits the diving head
butt, and JBL kicks out. Benoit locks in the
crossface, and Angle hits the ring. The ECW crew make the
save. Tazz hits the ring with Balls Mahoney and Axl
Rotten, and locks in the Tazmission on a Basham. The
show ends with the ECW crew in the ring.

Dale Plummer has been writing for SLAM!
Wrestling since 2003. Dale will be rockin' the old
school Phillies gear at Smackdown! next week. RAW
reporter Nick Tylwalk will also be joining Dale at the
event. Email Dale at DPLummer627@yahoo.com next week
for a preview.